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In this day and age of super sized food and magazines chock full of models who look like they would blow over with a strong gust of wind, who doesn't want to shed a few pounds? And many of us are constantly looking to get results without actually doing any of the work involved. We think if we just consume less calories we can remain in our old patterns of butts planted firmly on the couch watching television. Makes sense right?

Wrong. Exercise is a crucial part of weight loss - particularly when it comes to keeping the weight off. Sure you could starve yourself for a week and maybe lose some water weight but it will just come right back as soon as you return to normal eating behaviors. You may reduce your caloric intake by eating less but when your body looks to burn calories to fuel your energy, it is going to take them first from your muscle, not your fat stored. Aside from this, muscle is what helps you burn calories while your body is in a resting state. With weight training for example, you lift weights which causes the muscle fibers to tear. Your body then takes fat stored in other parts of your body and sends it towards the 'injured' area to help repair it. So not only are you building up your muscle, you are also burning the fat your body has stored.

Exercising also has another bonus effect - it helps curb your appetite. Initially you may feel more hungry in the first days and weeks you exercise but slowly as your body begins to look to itself for energy through your stored body fat, you will notice that you are less hungry throughout the day.

The bottom line is that exercise is an important and necessary part of health and weight loss any way you look at it. Even those who are merely looking to maintain their weight should have an exercise program to ensure that they are in good health. For those looking to lose weight, it is even more important. Any weight you lose on a crash diet will inevitably return to your thighs once you return to more normal diet. And you will return because no crash diet is sustainable for any length of time. By doing things the right way from the beginning, you drastically increase the odds that you will keep the weight off - and you will be much healthier! It's a win win situation.

Learn more about this author, Sadie Anne.
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